Patent application title: LATE BET BACCARAT

Abstract:

Among other things, enabling late bets in a game of Baccarat includes
accepting a first bet from one or more participants. Two cards are dealt
to each of a player position and a bank position. A player position score
and a bank position score are determined based on the two cards dealt to
each of the player position and the two cards dealt to the bank position.
Based on the determined scores for the player position and the bank
position, a determination is made on whether to deal a third card to at
least one of the player position and the bank position.

Claims:

1. A method comprising:accepting a bet from one or more
participants;dealing two cards each to a player position and a bank
position;determining a player position score and a bank position score
based on the two cards dealt to each of the player position and the two
cards dealt to the bank position; anddetermining whether to deal a third
card to at least one of the player position and the bank position based
on the determined scores for the player position and the bank position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether to accept
one or more late bets from the one or more participants based on a policy
of a casino or an online betting establishment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining whether to accept one or
more late bets is based on the policy that includes real time
calculations of a probability of the third card having a value from any
one of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting one or more late
bets from the one or more participants before a third card is dealt to
the player position when detected that a third card will be dealt to the
bank position.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting one or more late
bets from the one or more participants when detected that a third card
will be dealt to both the player position and the bank position.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting one or more late
bets from the one or more participants when detected that the determining
whether to deal a third card to the bank position is based on a value of
a third card dealt to the player position.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting one or more late
bets from the one or more participants before a third card is dealt to
the bank position when detected that a third card is to be dealt to the
bank position after dealing a third card to the player position.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting one or more late
bets from one or more participants before a third card is dealt to the
bank position when detected that a third card is to be dealt to the bank
position only.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting one or more late
bets from one or more participants before dealing a third card to the
player position and before dealing a third card to the bank position when
detected that a third card is to be dealt to both the player position and
the bank position.

10. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium,
operable to cause a data processing apparatus to perform operations
comprising:accepting a bet from one or more participants;dealing two
cards each to a player position and a bank position;determining a player
position score and a bank position score based on the two cards dealt to
each of the player position and the bank position; anddetermining whether
to deal a third card to at least one of the player position and the bank
position based on the determined scores for the player position and the
bank position.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, further operable to cause a
data processing apparatus to determine whether to accept one or more late
bets from the one or more participants based on a policy of a casino or
an online betting establishment.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further operable to cause a
data processing apparatus to determine whether to accept one or more late
bets based on the policy that includes real time calculations of a
probability of the third card having a value from any one of 0, 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

13. The computer program product of claim 10 further operable to cause a
data processing apparatus to accept one or more late bets from the one or
more participants before a third card is dealt to the player position
when determined that a third card will be dealt to the bank position.

14. The computer program product of claim 10 further operable to cause a
data processing apparatus to accept one or more late bets from the one or
more participants when determined that a third card will be dealt to both
the player position and the bank position.

15. The computer program product of claim 10 further operable to cause a
data processing apparatus to accept one or more late bets from the one or
more participants when detected that the determining whether to deal a
third card to the bank position is based on a value of a third card dealt
to the player position.

16. The computer program product of claim 10 further operable to cause a
data processing apparatus to accept one or more late bets from the one or
more participants before dealing a third card to the bank position when
detected that a third card is to be dealt to the bank position after
dealing a third card to the player position.

17. The computer program product of claim 10, further operable to cause a
data processing apparatus to accept one or more late bets from the one or
more participants before a third card is dealt to the bank position when
detected that a third card is to be dealt to the bank position only.

18. The computer program product of claim 10, further operable to cause a
data processing apparatus to accept one or more late bets from the one or
more participants before dealing a third card to the player position and
before dealing a third card to the bank position when detected that a
third card is to be dealt to both the player position and the bank
position.

19. A system comprising:a user interface configured to accept a first bet
from one or more participants; anda data processing unit communicatively
coupled to the user interface, the data processing unit configured todeal
two cards each to a player position and a bank position;determine a
player position score and a bank position score based on the two cards
dealt to each of the player position and the bank position; anddetermine
whether to deal a third card to at least one of the player position and
the bank position based on the determined scores for the player position
and the bank position.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the data processing unit is further
configured to determine whether to accept one or more late bets from the
one or more participants based on a policy of a casino or an online
betting establishment.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the data processing unit is further
configured to determine whether to accept one or more late bets from the
one or more participants based on the policy that includes real time
calculations of a probability of the third card having a value from any
one of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the user interface is further
configured to accept one or more late bets from the one or more
participants before a third card is dealt to the player position when the
data processing unit detects that a third card is to be dealt to the bank
position.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the user interface is further
configured to accept one or more late bets from the one or more
participants when the data processing unit detects that a third card is
to be dealt to both the player position and the bank position.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the user interface is further
configured to accept one or more late bets from the one or more
participants when the data processing unit detects that the determining
whether to deal a third card to the bank position is based on a value of
a third card dealt to the player position.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the user interface is further
configured to accept one or more late bets from the one or more
participants before dealing a third card to the bank position when the
data processing unit detects that a third card is to be dealt to the bank
position after dealing a third card to the player position.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the user interface is further
configured to accept one or more late bets from one or more participants
before a third card is dealt to the bank position when the data
processing unit detects that a third card is to be dealt to the bank
position only.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the user interface is further
configured to accept one or more late bets from one or more participants
before dealing a third card to the player position and before dealing a
third card to the bank position when detected that a third card is to be
dealt to both the player position and the bank position.

[0002]The subject matter described herein relates to techniques for
operating a Baccarat game. For example, techniques for implementing late
bets in a Baccarat game are disclosed.

BACKGROUND

[0003]In general, commercially available versions of the game of Baccarat
generally provide game participants a choice of three standard bets per
hand: BANK, PLAYER and/or TIE. And while other side bets are sometimes
accepted, both standard bets and side bets are accepted by casinos only
prior to the beginning of each hand.

SUMMARY

[0004]Techniques for implemented late bets in a game of Baccarat are
disclosed.

[0005]In one aspect, enabling late bets in a game of Baccarat includes
accepting a first bet from one or more participants. Two cards are dealt
to a player position and a bank position. A player position score and a
bank position score are determined based on the two cards dealt to each
of the player position and the two cards dealt to the bank position.
Based on the determined scores for the player position and the bank
position, a determination is made on whether to deal a third card to at
least one of the player position, and the bank position.

[0006]Implementations can optionally include one or more of the following
features. Determining whether to accept one or more late bets from the
one or more participants can be based on a policy of a casino or an
online betting establishment. Also, determining whether to accept one or
more late bets based on the policy can include determining based on real
time calculations of a probability of the third card having a value from
any one of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. One or more late bets can be
accepted from the one or more participants before a third card is dealt
to the player position when detected that a third card will be dealt to
the bank position. Alternatively, one or more late bets from the one or
more participants can be accepted when detected that a third card will be
dealt to both the player position and the bank position. Also, one or
more late bets can be accepted from the one or more participants when
detected that the determining whether to deal a third card to the bank
position is based on a value of a third card dealt to the player
position. Alternatively, one or more late bets can be accepted from the
one or more participants before a third card is dealt to the bank
position when detected that a third card is to be dealt to the bank
position after dealing a third card to the player position. Yet in
another case, one or more late bets can be accepted from one or more
participants before a third card is dealt to the bank position when
detected that a third card is to be dealt to the bank position only. When
detected that a third card is to be dealt to both the player position and
the bank position one or more late bets can be accepted from one or more
participants before dealing a third card to the player position and
before dealing a third card to the bank position.

[0007]In another aspect, techniques disclosed in this specification is
implemented as a computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable
medium, designed to cause a data processing apparatus to perform
operations including accepting a bet from one or more participants. In
addition, the computer program product is designed to cause the data
processing apparatus to deal two cards each to a player position and a
bank position. calculating a player position score and a bank position
score based on the two cards dealt to each of the player position and the
bank position. The computer program product is also designed to determine
whether to deal a third card to at least one of the player position and
the bank position based on the determined scores for the player position
and the bank position. The computer program product is also designed to
cause a data processing apparatus to determine whether to accept one or
more late bets from the one or more participants based on a policy of a
casino or an online betting establishment.

[0008]Implementations can optionally include one or more of the following
features. The computer program product can further be designed to cause a
data processing apparatus to determine whether to accept one or more late
bets based on the policy that includes real time calculations of a
probability of the third card having a value from any one of 0, 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. When determined that a third card will be dealt to
the bank position, the computer program product of claim can also be
designed to cause a data processing apparatus to accept one or more late
bets from the one or more participants before a third card is dealt to
the player position. When determined that a third card will be dealt to
both the player position and the bank position, the computer program
product of claim can be designed to cause a data processing apparatus to
accept one or more late bets from the one or more participants. When
detected that the determining whether to deal a third card to the bank
position is based on a value of a third card dealt to the player
position, the computer program product can be designed to cause a data
processing apparatus to accept one or more late bets from the one or more
participants. When detected that a third card is to be dealt to the bank
position after dealing a third card to the player position, the computer
program product can be designed to cause a data processing apparatus to
accept one or more late bets from the one or more participants before
dealing a third card to the bank position. When detected that a third
card is to be dealt to the bank position only, the computer program
product can be designed to cause a data processing apparatus to accept
one or more late bets from the one or more participants before a third
card is dealt to the bank position. When detected that a third card is to
be dealt to both the player position and the bank position, the computer
program product can be designed to cause a data processing apparatus to
accept one or more late bets from the one or more participants before
dealing a third card to the player position and before dealing a third
card to the bank position.

[0009]In another aspect, the techniques disclosed in this specification is
implemented as a system that includes a user interface designed to accept
a first bet from one or more participants, and a data processing unit
communicatively coupled to the user interface. The data processing unit
is designed to deal two cards each to a player position and a bank
position. The data processing unit is also designed to determine a player
position score and a bank position score based on the two cards dealt to
each of the player position and the bank position. Further, the data
processing unit is further designed to determine whether to deal a third
card to at least one of the player position and the bank position based
on the determined scores for the player position and the bank position.

[0010]Implementations can optionally include one or more of the following
features. The data processing unit can be designed to determine whether
to accept one or more late bets from the one or more participants based
on a policy of a casino or an online betting establishment. Also, the
data processing unit can be designed to determine whether to accept one
or more late bets from the one or more participants based on the policy
that includes real time calculations of a probability of the third card
having a value from any one of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Further,
the user interface can be designed to accept one or more late bets from
the one or more participants before a third card is dealt to the player
position when the data processing unit detects that a third card is to be
dealt to the bank position. Also, the user interface is can be designed
to accept one or more late bets from the one or more participants when
the data processing unit detects that a third card is to be dealt to both
the player position and the bank position. When the data processing unit
detects that the determining whether to deal a third card to the bank
position is based on a value of a third card dealt to the player
position, the user interface can be designed to accept one or more late
bets from the one or more participants. When the data processing unit
detects that a third card is to be dealt to the bank position after
dealing a third card to the player position, the user interface can be
further designed to accept one or more late bets from the one or more
participants before dealing a third card to the bank position. When the
data processing unit detects that a third card is to be dealt to the bank
position only, the user interface can be designed to accept one or more
late bets from one or more participants before a third card is dealt to
the bank position. When detected that a third card is to be dealt to both
the player position and the bank position, the user interface can be
designed to accept one or more late bets from one or more participants
before dealing a third card to the player position and before dealing a
third card to the bank position.

[0011]The subject matter of this disclosure can be implemented as computer
program products, tangibly embodied in a computer or machine readable
medium. Such computer program products may cause a data processing
apparatus to conduct one or more operations described herein.

[0012]Similarly, systems are also described that may include a processor
and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory may encode one or more
programs that cause the processor to perform one or more of the method
acts described herein.

[0013]Further, features described in this specification can be implemented
as one or more methods or processes.

[0014]The subject matter described herein provides many advantages. For
example, the opportunity to place late bets on BANK, PLAYER and TIE based
on changing odds can make the game if Baccarat far more challenging and
fun for the game participants. In addition, the late bets can provide
additional play and revenues for casinos.

[0015]The details of one or more variations of the subject matter
described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the
description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter
described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and
from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is process flow diagram of a process for implementing late
bets in a game of Baccarat.

[0017]FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a system for implementing late bets in
a game of Baccarat.

[0018]FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a stand alone system for implementing
late bets in a game of Baccarat.

[0019]FIG. 2C is a block diagram of a network system for implementing late
bets in a game of Baccarat.

[0020]FIGS. 3A and 3B are top down views of modified Baccarat Tables.

[0021]Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like
elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022]Techniques for implementing late bets in a game of Baccarat are
disclosed. In contrast to bets that are required to be placed before the
beginning of a hand, late bets are based on changing odds of winning as
the game progresses.

[0023]Baccarat is a simple gambling card game with only three possible
results: (1) Player, (2) Bank and (3) TIE. The term Player does not refer
to a game participant, and the term Bank does not refer to the house.
Player, Bank and TIE are merely names of three betting options from which
a game participant can choose.

[0024]Baccarat, as played on a table in a casino, is generally played with
8 decks of cards dealt from a container known as a shoe. The shoe
facilitates efficient dealing while decreasing the chance of cards being
prematurely exposed by the dealer. Baccarat, in its electronic form, as
played on-line or by machine in a casino, may use electronic decks of
cards and shoes in which shuffles do not occur until the end of the shoe
as in table games using real cards. However, in some cases, electronic
games may be designed to reshuffle the cards after each hand is played.

[0025]Scoring in Baccarat involves the assignment of points corresponding
to the face value of each card. The suit and color does not matter in
determining the value of each card. Aces are worth 1. Each numbered card
less than ten is worth its face value. Tens and face cards are worth 0.
Further, the score of a hand is determined by the right digit of the
total value of the cards. For example, if the cards dealt are an 8 and a
7 (of any suit or color), the total value is 15 but the score for the
hand would be 5. If the cards dealt are an 8, 7 and a 6, the total value
is 21 but the score would be 1. The scores always range from 0 to 9, and
it is impossible to bust as in the game of blackjack. The winning hand is
determined by identifying the hand with a score closest to 9 at the end.
Matching scores at the end are considered a TIE. In case of a TIE, bets
on TIE win and bets on the Bank and Player positions are returned.

[0026]Baccarat is a game that tends to attract high stakes because (with
the exception of the TIE bet) the game provides extremely close odds, as
can be seen in Table 1 below.

[0027]Traditionally, the bets on BANK, PLAYER and TIE are placed by game
participants prior to the beginning of each hand. In some instances,
various supplemental bets may be allowed by some casinos, but in all
cases, these early bets are placed when the odds of winning or losing, as
described in Table 1, are static since no cards have been dealt yet. Late
bets, as described in this specification, are based on the changing odds
of winning as the hand progresses. The opportunity to place late bets on
BANK, PLAYER and TIE based on changing odds can make the game of Baccarat
far more challenging and fun for the game participants, while
simultaneously producing additional play and revenues for casinos. These
late bets could be placed without respect to (1) whether the game
participant had placed a bet prior to the beginning of the hand and (2)
without respect to whether a game participant's first bet was on BANK or
PLAYER and/or TIE and/or any side bet allowed.

[0028]FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram showing a process 100 for
implementing late bets in a game of Baccarat. A traditional game of
Baccarat starts with one or more participants placing a traditional bet
(e.g., bet on Player position, bet on Bank position or bet on TIE prior
to the start of the hand.) This first bet is received from one or more of
the participants at 110. A dealer alternately deals two cards to a Player
position and another two cards to a Bank position at 120. A score is
determined, according to the rules of Baccarat as described above, for
the Player position and the Bank position at 130. At 140, a determination
is made whether a third card should be dealt to the Player position
and/or the Bank position by considering the following:

[0029]Player and Bank positions both stand, or

[0030]Player position stands, Bank position draws third card, or

[0031]Bank position stands, Player position draws third card, or

[0032]Player and Bank positions both draw a third card or

[0033]Player position draws third card, Bank position sometimes draws
third card.

[0034]The determination at 140 above is made using the following standard
Baccarat drawing rules:

1. If either the Player position or the Bank position has a total of an 8
or 9, each position stands and the hand is over. This rule overrides all
other rules.2. If both the Player position and the Bank position have a
total of 6 or 7, each position stands and the hand is over. This rule
overrides the rules below.3. The Player position always stands on a 6 or
7 and draws on 0-5.4. The Bank position always stands on a total of 7,
draws on 0-5 if the Player position stands, but if the Player position is
not going to stand, is guaranteed a draw on 0-2 only.5. In cases in which
the Player position is not going to stand and the Bank position has a
total of 3 to 6, the determination on whether the Bank position does or
does not receive a third card is based on the value of the third card
received by the Player position.In these cases the Bank position draws a
third card if the Bank position's starting total is

[0035](a) 3 and the Player position's third card is an A-7, 9 or 0 value
card (any card but an 8)

[0036](b) 4 and the Player position's third card is a 2-7

[0037](c) 5 and the Player position's third card is a 4-7

[0038](d) 6 and the Player position's third card is a 6-7

[0039]When the determination at 140 is that a third card should be dealt
to the Player position, another determination is made at 145 to decide
whether to accept Late bets (e.g., based on established policy of the
casino or the online gaming site). When the determination at 145 is to
accept late bets, all participants, may be allowed to place a late bet at
150 prior to the receipt of the Player's third card at 160. When
required, based on the standard Baccarat drawing rules described above,
the third card is dealt to the Player position at 160. After the third
card is dealt to the Player position, if the determination was not made
at 140 to definitely or definitely not deal a card to the Bank position,
then a determination may be required at 170 to decide whether to deal a
third card to the Bank Position. In this case, the determination on
whether or not a third card will be dealt to the Bank position is
dependent upon the value of the third card drawn by the Player position
(see, standard Baccarat drawing rules above). When the determination at
either 140 or 170 is that a third card should be dealt to the Bank
position, then another determination is made at 175 to decide whether
late bets are accepted (e.g., based on established policy of the casino
or online gaming site). When determined that late bets are accepted at
175, all participants may be allowed to place a late bet at 180 prior to
dealing a third card to the Bank position at 190. The third card is dealt
to the Bank position at 195 when required (e.g., based on standard
Baccarat drawing rules).

[0040]When the determination at 140 is that a third card should not be
dealt to the Player position, then a determination is made at 140 to
decide whether a third card should be dealt to Banker position. When the
determination at 140 is to deal the third card to Bank position, the
process 100 moves to 175 to determine if late bets should be accepted
from any participants, based on the established policy of the casino or
the online gaming site, before dealing the third card to the Bank
position at 190. When the determination at 175 is that late bets are not
accepted (e.g., based on established policy of the casino or the online
gaming site), the process 100 moves to deal the third card to the Bank
position at 190 without accepting any late bets. Then, the final score is
determined and the game ends at 195. When the determination at 170 is
that a third card is not to be dealt to the Bank position (which may be
independent of whether a third card was dealt to the Player position),
the process 100 moves to determine the final score and the game ends at
195 without dealing third card to the Bank position or accepting late
bets. When the determination at 145 is that late bets are not accepted
(e.g., based on established policy of the casino or the online gaming
site), the process 100 also moves to deal a third card to the Player
position without accepting any late bets.

[0041]In cases in which both the Bank and Player positions receive a third
card (e.g., by the process 100 performing 140, 145, 150, 160, 170, 175,
180, 190 and 195), a total of two late bets may be accepted from each
participant--one at 145 and another at 175. Since accepting the late bets
at 145 and 175 may depend on the established policy of the casino or the
online gaming site, the game can end at 195 with one, two or zero rounds
of late bets being accepted. As previously noted, no late bets based on
changing odds are allowed in traditional Baccarat.

[0042]Assume, for example, that after the first two cards are dealt to
each position, the Player position trails the Bank position by a score of
7 to 2. In this particular case, the rules of Baccarat entitle the Player
position to receive a third card. Here, each casino would have the option
of accepting a late bet from any participant at 150 (before the third
card is dealt to the Player position at 160). The odds offered to
participants by the casino on this late bet would be determined by the
casino based on the then current odds of a Tie hand occurring, or a win
by the Bank and Player positions. In this particular case, the Bank
position would be favored to win by approximately 5 to 1 (without taking
into consideration the effect of the specific cards previously removed
from the shoe). In this example, a casino would have pre-established and
published a written policy in regard to offering late bets on TIE, the
Bank position or Player position at odds that will ensure the casino will
maintain an edge, or the casino may have pre-established and published a
written policy not to accept a late bet on this particular play (or any
other play).

[0043]In the example above, if the casino had established a written policy
to accept late bets on this particular play (Player 2, Bank 7), all game
participants would be entitled to place a late bet at the odds determined
by the casino, which, in the case of a table game, would be based on
combination of the current score and the particular cards that had
already been removed from the shoe. However, in an electronic game in
which the cards are reshuffled prior to each hand, it's likely that the
odds would be determined solely by the score. For example, a table game
participant who originally bet $1,000 on Player position who believes
that he is going to lose the original wager on a bet on the Player
position, might decide to place a $5,000 late bet on the Bank position.
In this case, if the Bank Position holds on to win and assuming the late
bet odds offered by the casino on the Bank position were 1-5, the game
participant wins $950 ($1,000 less $50 commission) on the late bet, which
will cover most of the loss related to the initial bet on Player
Position. However, if Player Position were to draw (on the third card
dealt) a 6 or 7, the game participant who made the original bet on the
Player position and the late bet on the Bank position, would end up
$4,000 worse off by winning the original $1,000 bet on the Player
position but losing the late bet of $5,000 on the Bank position.

[0044]In the late bet example above, a game participant who originally bet
$1,000 on the Bank position might decide to hedge that initial bet by
making a late bet of $500 on the Player position. In this case, if the
Bank position holds on for a win, the game participant's net win will be
$450 (a $1,000 win on the initial bet on the Bank position less $50 (5%
commission) less the $500 loss on the late bet made on the Player
position. However, if the Player position should pull out the win by
drawing a 6 or 7, the game participant still wins a net of $1,500 ($2,500
win [assuming the odds offered by the casino were 5-1] on the late bet on
the Player position less the $1,000 loss on the initial bet on the Bank
position). Without the hedge bet this game participant would have lost
the entire initial bet of $1,000.

[0045]In the same late bet example discussed above, a game participant
might decide to make a late bet on TIE. In this case, prior to when the
third card is dealt to the Player position, the approximate odds against
a tie (without taking into consideration the effect of the specific cards
previously removed from the shoe) would be 11-1 as opposed to only 8-1 if
the TIE bet had been placed prior to the beginning of the hand (i.e.,
initial bet). In this case the casino might choose to offer odds of 11
for 1 (10 to 1).

[0046]The late bet example discussed above in which the Player position
trails the Bank position by a score of 7-2 after the first two cards have
been dealt is just one of many described above. The standard baccarat
drawing rules (e.g., Nos. 3-5), all of which could, depending upon the
policies established by the casino, provide similar opportunities for
game participants to place a new bet on either the Player position or the
Bank position, increase their original bet, hedge their original bet by
changing sides or make a new or additional bet on Tie. As described, each
of the late bet examples in a table game would offer odds based on a
combination of the current score and the cards that have already played
during the shoe. But as discussed above, in an electronic game in which
the cards are reshuffled prior to each hand, it's likely that the odds
would be determined solely by the score. In either case, table or
electronic, these late bet opportunities would be a first for the game of
Baccarat.

[0047]FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a system 200 for implementing the late
bets in a game of Baccarat. The system 200 includes a user interface unit
210, a data processing unit 220 and an output unit 230. The user
interface 210 is communicatively coupled to the data processing unit
through a communication link 212. Likewise, the output unit 230 is
communicatively coupled to the data processing unit 220 through a
communication link 232.

[0048]The communication links 212 and 232 can provide either
unidirectional or bidirectional communications, and can be combined into
a single, shared communication channel (e.g., a bus network). The
communication links 212 and 232 can be implemented using a wired
protocol, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), FireWire, or other suitable
connections. Alternatively, the communication links 212 and 232 can be
implemented using a wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, WiMax,
etc.

[0049]As shown in FIG. 2B, the system 200 can be implemented using a stand
alone computer system 205. The computer system can include the output
unit 230, the user interface device unit 210 and the data processing unit
220. The computer system 210 can include at least a processor 212 and a
memory 214. The processor data processing unit 230 can include a central
processing unit (CPU), or other suitable processor/hardware such as an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The computer system 205
can optionally include other computer components such as a memory unit
(not shown) can be a volatile or non-volatile memory unit used to store
and execute computer executable instructions. The output unit 230 can
include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other suitable display devices.
The computer system 205 can be implemented as a stand alone gaming
machine, for example, such as a video poker machine prevalent in a
casino.

[0050]In some implementations, the system 200 can be implemented as a
network system 280 as shown in FIG. 2C. The network system 280 includes a
user terminal 250 communicatively coupled to a server 270 over a
communication network 260. The communication network can include the
internet, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), WiFi, WiMax,
etc. The user terminal 250 can include the user interface unit 210 and
the output unit 230. The server 270 can include the data processing unit
220. The network system 280 can be implemented as an online Baccarat
game, where a remote user interfacing with a user terminal 250 (e.g., a
personal computer) communicates with the server 270. The online Baccarat
game is managed and executed by the data processing unit 230.

[0051]In a casino Baccarat game using actual playing cards, the data
processing unit 230 can be used by the casino to determine the odds for
placing late bets as described above. Alternatively, in a casino Baccarat
game machine (e.g., similar to a video poker machine) or an online
Baccarat game, the user interface unit 210 is used to receive bets placed
by the game participant in addition to any other user interactions. The
data processing unit 230 manages one or more computer programs that when
executed cause the Baccarat game machine (data processing device) to
perform various functions, such as (1) dealing the cards to the Player
Position and the Bank Position; (2) determine scores for both positions;
(3) determine whether a third card should be dealt to the Player Position
and/or the Bank; (4) determine odds (probabilities) for late bets in
real-time; (5) determine whether late bets should be received from the
game participant Position; (6) determine the final scores for both
positions; and (7) determine the winners.

[0052]Various implementations of the subject matter described herein may
be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry,
specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits),
computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof. These
various implementations may include implementation in one or more
computer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on a
programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which
may be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and
instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage
system, at least one input device, and at least one output device.

[0053]These computer programs (also known as programs, software, software
applications or code) include machine instructions for a programmable
processor, and may be implemented in a high-level procedural and/or
object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machine
language. As used herein, the term "information carrier" comprises a
"machine-readable medium" that includes any computer program product,
apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory,
Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions
and/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable
medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal,
as well as a propagated machine-readable signal. The term
"machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used to provide machine
instructions and/or data to a programmable processor.

[0054]To provide for interaction with a user, the subject matter described
herein may be implemented on a computer having a display device (e.g., a
CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor) for
displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device
(e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user may provide input to the
computer. Other kinds of devices may be used to provide for interaction
with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user may be
any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback,
or tactile feedback); and input from the user may be received in any
form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

[0055]The subject matter described herein may be implemented in a
computing system that includes a back-end component (e.g., as a data
server), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an application
server), or that includes a front-end component (e.g., a client computer
having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user
may interact with an implementation of the subject matter described
herein), or any combination of such back-end, middleware, or front-end
components. The components of the system may be interconnected by any
form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication
network). Examples of communication networks include a local area network
("LAN"), a wide area network ("WAN"), and the Internet.

[0056]The computing system may include clients and servers. A client and
server are generally remote from each other and typically interact
through a communication network. The relationship of client and server
arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers
and having a client-server relationship to each other.

[0057]While this specification contains many specifics, these should not
be construed as limitations on the scope of any invention or of what may
be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific
to particular embodiments of particular inventions. Certain features that
are described in this specification in the context of separate
embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single
embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the
context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple
embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover,
although features may be described above as acting in certain
combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features
from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the
combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a
subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0058]Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a
particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such
operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential
order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve
desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel
processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various
system components in the embodiments described above should not be
understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should
be understood that the described program components and systems can
generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged
into multiple software products.

[0059]Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other
modifications are possible. For example, the logic flow depicted in the
accompanying figures and described herein does not require the particular
order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results.

[0060]In particular, the Baccarat game table layouts could be slightly
altered to accommodate late bet opportunities or late bets could be
accommodated on existing table layouts by the casino's designation of a
spot on the table for those bets. FIGS. 3a and 3b are example diagrams of
a Baccarat game table layout that shows how late bets may be
accommodated. FIG. 3a illustrates a BIG BACCARAT table and FIG. 3b
illustrates a MINI BACCARAT table. Initial bets on the Bank and Player
positions could be placed to the left 302 of the letter appearing in the
game participants' betting spots and late bets to the right 304 of the
same letter. For bets on TIE, initial bets could be placed on the left
306 of the space traditionally used for TIE bets, and late bets place on
the right 308 of the same space. The difference between a BIG BACCARAT
table and a MINI BACCARAT table is that the MINI BACCARAT table is set up
like a blackjack table with a single dealer on one side of the table and
game participants on the other side.

[0061]Also, while it would be theoretically possible for a casino to allow
late bets prior to each draw during the hand, live table games require
the casino to consider the practicality of being able to offer bets that
are convenient to place, track and pay off at the table. Accordingly,
late bets prior to every possible draw would likely, but not necessarily,
be limited to electronic or on-line versions of Baccarat.

[0062]At live table games in a casino, the implementations described may
be limited to late bets on the final draw of the hand. In such
implementations, casinos may choose to develop rules and procedures that
will allow them to offer certain late bets without the utilizing
technology to determine the changing odds in real-time.

[0063]In the examples of late bets described above, the actual odds
offered to the game participant by the casino could be adjusted based on
the casino's preferences, but the examples chosen illustrate the
attractiveness and simplicity of the late bet concept from both the
casino's and the game participant's point of view.